Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has strongly rejected recent US tariff measures on Brazilian products, declaring that the country’s democracy and sovereignty are “non-negotiable.”

In an opinion piece published in The New York Times, Lula criticized the Trump administration’s decision to impose 50 percent tariffs on Brazilian imports, calling it “misguided” and lacking economic logic. He argued that while Brazil is open to dialogue on mutually beneficial trade, its democratic institutions and sovereign policies will not be compromised.

Lula pointed out that over the past 15 years, the United States has enjoyed a trade surplus of more than $410 billion with Brazil, with nearly 75 percent of US exports entering the country duty-free. He accused Washington of using tariffs and the Global Magnitsky Act sanctions to shield former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was recently sentenced to over 27 years in prison for attempting a coup.

On the issue of digital regulation, Lula said that all platforms in Brazil must comply with national laws aimed at combating disinformation, fraud, and hate speech. He also defended the PIX instant payment system as a tool for financial inclusion.

Responding to US concerns about environmental enforcement, the president highlighted that Brazil has halved deforestation in the Amazon over the past two years.

Emphasizing the importance of cooperation, Lula said there should be no ideological barriers preventing Brazil and the United States from working together on shared goals. “Brazil’s democracy and sovereignty are not on the table,” he wrote, stressing that both nations are capable of mutual respect while pursuing common interests.